EP2248220B1 - Reintroduction of lithium into recycled electrode materials for battery - Google Patents

Reintroduction of lithium into recycled electrode materials for battery Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP2248220B1
EP2248220B1 EP09713108.0A EP09713108A EP2248220B1 EP 2248220 B1 EP2248220 B1 EP 2248220B1 EP 09713108 A EP09713108 A EP 09713108A EP 2248220 B1 EP2248220 B1 EP 2248220B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
lithium
electrode
deficient
deficient electrode
harvesting
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
EP09713108.0A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP2248220A4 (en
EP2248220A1 (en
Inventor
Steven E. Sloop
Original Assignee
Steven E. Sloop
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority to US3091608P priority Critical
Application filed by Steven E. Sloop filed Critical Steven E. Sloop
Priority to PCT/US2009/034779 priority patent/WO2009105713A1/en
Publication of EP2248220A1 publication Critical patent/EP2248220A1/en
Publication of EP2248220A4 publication Critical patent/EP2248220A4/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2248220B1 publication Critical patent/EP2248220B1/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Images

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M10/00—Secondary cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M10/05—Accumulators with non-aqueous electrolyte
    • H01M10/052—Li-accumulators
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M4/00—Electrodes
    • H01M4/02—Electrodes composed of or comprising active material
    • H01M4/04—Processes of manufacture in general
    • H01M4/049—Manufacturing of an active layer by chemical means
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M10/00—Secondary cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M10/42—Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance of secondary cells or secondary half-cells
    • H01M10/4242—Regeneration of electrolyte or reactants
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M10/00—Secondary cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M10/54—Reclaiming serviceable parts of waste accumulators
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M4/00—Electrodes
    • H01M4/02—Electrodes composed of or comprising active material
    • H01M4/13—Electrodes for accumulators with non-aqueous electrolyte, e.g. for lithium-accumulators; Processes of manufacture thereof
    • H01M4/139—Processes of manufacture
    • H01M4/1391—Processes of manufacture of electrodes based on mixed oxides or hydroxides, or on mixtures of oxides or hydroxides, e.g. LiCoOx
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B02—CRUSHING, PULVERISING, OR DISINTEGRATING; PREPARATORY TREATMENT OF GRAIN FOR MILLING
    • B02C—CRUSHING, PULVERISING, OR DISINTEGRATING IN GENERAL; MILLING GRAIN
    • B02C17/00—Disintegrating by tumbling mills, i.e. mills having a container charged with the material to be disintegrated with or without special disintegrating members such as pebbles or balls
    • B02C17/18—Details
    • B02C17/20—Disintegrating members
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M4/00—Electrodes
    • H01M4/02—Electrodes composed of or comprising active material
    • H01M4/13—Electrodes for accumulators with non-aqueous electrolyte, e.g. for lithium-accumulators; Processes of manufacture thereof
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M4/00—Electrodes
    • H01M4/02—Electrodes composed of or comprising active material
    • H01M4/36—Selection of substances as active materials, active masses, active liquids
    • H01M4/48—Selection of substances as active materials, active masses, active liquids of inorganic oxides or hydroxides
    • H01M4/485—Selection of substances as active materials, active masses, active liquids of inorganic oxides or hydroxides of mixed oxides or hydroxides for inserting or intercalating light metals, e.g. LiTi2O4 or LiTi2OxFy
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M4/00—Electrodes
    • H01M4/02—Electrodes composed of or comprising active material
    • H01M4/36—Selection of substances as active materials, active masses, active liquids
    • H01M4/48—Selection of substances as active materials, active masses, active liquids of inorganic oxides or hydroxides
    • H01M4/50—Selection of substances as active materials, active masses, active liquids of inorganic oxides or hydroxides of manganese
    • H01M4/505—Selection of substances as active materials, active masses, active liquids of inorganic oxides or hydroxides of manganese of mixed oxides or hydroxides containing manganese for inserting or intercalating light metals, e.g. LiMn2O4 or LiMn2OxFy
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M4/00—Electrodes
    • H01M4/02—Electrodes composed of or comprising active material
    • H01M4/36—Selection of substances as active materials, active masses, active liquids
    • H01M4/48—Selection of substances as active materials, active masses, active liquids of inorganic oxides or hydroxides
    • H01M4/52—Selection of substances as active materials, active masses, active liquids of inorganic oxides or hydroxides of nickel, cobalt or iron
    • H01M4/525—Selection of substances as active materials, active masses, active liquids of inorganic oxides or hydroxides of nickel, cobalt or iron of mixed oxides or hydroxides containing iron, cobalt or nickel for inserting or intercalating light metals, e.g. LiNiO2, LiCoO2 or LiCoOxFy
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M4/00—Electrodes
    • H01M4/02—Electrodes composed of or comprising active material
    • H01M4/36—Selection of substances as active materials, active masses, active liquids
    • H01M4/58—Selection of substances as active materials, active masses, active liquids of inorganic compounds other than oxides or hydroxides, e.g. sulfides, selenides, tellurides, halogenides or LiCoFy; of polyanionic structures, e.g. phosphates, silicates or borates
    • H01M4/5825—Oxygenated metallic slats or polyanionic structures, e.g. borates, phosphates, silicates, olivines
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02E60/10—Energy storage using batteries
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
    • Y02P70/00—Climate change mitigation technologies in the production process for final industrial or consumer products
    • Y02P70/50—Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02W—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT
    • Y02W30/00—Technologies for solid waste management
    • Y02W30/50—Reuse, recycling or recovery technologies
    • Y02W30/84—Recycling of batteries or fuel cells

Description

    Technical Field
  • The present application relates to the field of lithium-based energy-storage devices, and more particularly, to recycling lithium-based energy-storage devices.
    • Background
  • Lithium-based energy-storage devices are used in a variety of consumer products. Such devices include supercapacitors, ultracapacitors, and more commonly lithium cells and lithium-ion cells. These devices are often referred to as 'lithium batteries' both individually and as an ensemble. Some lithium-based energy-storage devices are rechargeable and have a relatively long useful lifetime. Nevertheless, they eventually fail or are discarded prior to failure, and therefore contribute to a significant and growing waste stream. In view of this situation, environmental regulations, industry standards, and collection services have arisen to promote the recycling of lithium-based energy storage devices.
  • The Journal of Power Sources, vol. 163, no. 1, 7 December 2006, pages 284-288, XP027938467, describes a method for recycling a lithium-ion rechargeable battery using the Etoile-Rebatt technology.
  • CN 1 585 187 A discloses a method for regenerating anode materials of used lithium-ion secondary battery.
  • US 6 150 050 A discloses a method for making a recycled electrode material according to the pre-characterising portion of claim 1.
  • US 6 261 712 B1 discloses a method of reclaiming cathodic active material of lithiumion secondary batteries.
  • EP 1 009 058 A1 discloses a method of treating a waste lithium battery to recycle its materials.
  • JP 11 054159 A discloses a process for recycling anode waste material of a lithium battery.
  • US 2007/134546 A1 discloses a method for recycling a battery that includes a plurality of lithium cells removing from one another.
  • US 6 844 103 B2 discloses an apparatus and a method for recovering lithium cobalt oxide from spent lithium batteries.
    • Summary
  • The inventors herein have recognized that an economically robust recycling or refurbishing strategy is one that preserves and enhances the value of the electrode material. Therefore, in one embodiment, a method for making a recycled electrode material for an energy-storage device is provided. The method comprises harvesting a lithium-deficient electrode material from a recycling or waste stream, and replenishing at least some lithium in the lithium-deficient electrode material.
  • In another example, a method for refurbishing an electrode material in a cell of an energy-storage device is provided. The method comprises breaching an enclosure of the cell, replenishing at least some lithium in a lithium-deficient electrode material of the cell, and sealing the enclosure of the cell.
  • It will be understood that the summary above is provided to introduce in simplified form a selection of concepts that are further described in the detailed description, which follows. It is not meant to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, the scope of which is defined by the claims that follow the detailed description. Further, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any disadvantages noted above or in any part of this disclosure.
    • Brief Description of the Drawings
    • FIG. 1 illustrates aspects of an example method for making a recycled electrode material for an energy-storage device, in accordance with the present disclosure.
    • FIG. 2 illustrates an example method for harvesting a lithium-deficient electrode material from a waste or recycling stream, in accordance with the present disclosure.
    • FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a solid-state method for replenishing at least some lithium in a lithium-deficient electrode material.
    • FIG. 4 illustrates an example embodiment of a hydrothermal method for replenishing at least some lithium in a lithium-deficient electrode material, in accordance with the present disclosure.
    • FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a reductive method for replenishing at least some lithium in a lithium-deficient electrode material.
    • FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a lithium or lithium-ion cell refurbishment method.
    Detailed Description
  • FIG. 1 illustrates aspects of an example embodiment of a method 10 for making a recycled electrode material for an energy-storage device. It will be understood that the example method may be part of a more extensive method for recycling batteries and/or processing waste streams that include battery-derived wastes. Further, the example method may be part of a more extensive method for making a recycled electrode for an energy-storage device or for making an energy storage device. Accordingly, in some embodiments, one or more actions may be taken prior to the first illustrated step, and one or more actions may follow the final illustrated step.
  • At 12, a lithium-deficient electrode material is harvested from a recycling or waste stream. The recycling or waste stream from which the lithium-deficient electrode material is harvested may be a dedicated battery recycling or waste stream, or more particularly, a lithium-battery recycling or waste stream. Further, the lithium-deficient electrode material may be harvested from the waste or recycling stream in any suitable manner. However, one example harvesting method is illustrated in FIG. 2.
  • Referring now to FIG. 2, harvesting method 14 begins at 16, where the cells of a spent battery (if the battery comprises more than one cell) are separated. Separating the cells of the spent battery may comprise removing or opening an envelope of the battery, for example. The harvesting method then advances to 18, where the enclosures of the one or more cells of the battery are breached. Breaching the enclosures may involve drilling or cutting the enclosures, for example. These actions may be most appropriately applied to cells not particularly designed to facilitate recycling. For cells that are designed to facilitate recycling, breaching the enclosures may involve puncturing or otherwise opening a dedicated breach passage. In these and other embodiments, the enclosures of the cells may be breached in a controlled environment-in a reduced humidity or reduced dioxygen-content environment for example. In one, non-limiting embodiment, the enclosures of the cells may be breached under a dinitrogen atmosphere. Breaching the enclosures in such controlled environments may reduce the risk of fire associated with exposure of a lithium-containing negative electrode of a cell to water vapor and/or dioxygen, as discussed below.
  • The harvesting method then advances to 20, where reactive material within the one or more cells of the battery is passivated. The term 'passivate' is used herein to indicate reducing the chemical reactivity of a substance to make it safer to store and/or handle. A form of chemical reactivity that is contemplated in the context of lithium batteries is the combustibility of the negative electrodes of lithium and lithium-ion cells. Such negative electrodes may contain lithium metal or lithium-intercalated graphite, which react violently with water and may spontaneously ignite in air. These materials may be passivated by controlled chemical oxidation and/or interaction with a Lewis base, such as an alkyl carbonate or ether, or a Lewis Acid such as PF5. It is noted that this manner of passivation may be applied to other battery materials as well, in addition to lithium and lithium-ion battery materials. In one embodiment, passivating the reactive material may comprise exposing the one or more breached cells to air and/or water in a controlled manner. In another embodiment, passivating the reactive material may comprise bathing the one or more breached cells in a solvent such as liquid carbon dioxide or supercritical carbon dioxide, with a controlled amount of an oxidant such as air or water added to the carbon dioxide. In these and other embodiments, the controlled environment in which the breached cells are passivated may be configured to accommodate a release of dihydrogen or other gas-phase products that may be released when the lithium-containing negative electrodes of the one or more breached cells are passivated.
  • The harvesting method then advances to 22, where a lithium-deficient electrode material is separated from the one or more breached cells of the battery. In one embodiment, the lithium-deficient electrode material separated from the one or more breached cells may comprise a lithium-deficient form of lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2), viz., Li1-x CoO2 where 0 < x < 1. Thus, the lithium-deficient electrode material may be a positive electrode material used in a lithium or lithium-ion cell of the battery. Accordingly, the lithium-deficient electrode material may further comprise various other materials, including graphitic and/or amorphous carbon. In these and other embodiments, the lithium-deficient electrode material may comprise lithium-deficient forms of other positive electrode materials used lithium and lithium-ion cells: LiTiO2, LiFePO4, LiMnO2, LiNi0.80 Co0.05 Al0.15O2, as examples.
  • In one embodiment, an intact positive electrode may be separated from a breached cell. In other embodiments, positive electrode material may be removed in pieces or in a finely divided state-e.g., as particles. Further, in embodiments where pieces or particles are separated from a breached cell, the lithium-deficient electrode material may be selected from a material stream based on a grain size, a particle size, or a structure size of the lithium-deficient electrode material. To this end, sieving may be applied to a material stream consisting of solids. Likewise, filtration or centrifugation may be applied to a material stream consisting of a liquid having suspended or entrained pieces or particles. In some embodiments, separating the lithium-deficient electrode material from the one or more breached cells may further comprise rinsing the lithium-deficient electrode material with a solvent-e.g., water or carbon dioxide-and allowing the lithium-deficient electrode material to dry. This action may be taken in order to free the lithium-deficient electrode material from adherent liquid electrolyte. In other embodiments, the rinsing and/or drying steps may be enacted prior to separating the lithium-deficient electrode material from the one or more breached cells. It will be understood that one or more process steps within harvesting method 14 may be wholly or partly automated. Further, the harvesting method may be repeated for any desired number of spent batteries in the waste or recycling stream.
  • Returning now to FIG. 1, at 24, at least some lithium is replenished in the lithium-deficient electrode material.
  • A first non-inventive example of replenishing comprises promoting a solid-state reaction of the lithium-deficient electrode material with a lithium compound intimately present in excess. An example solid-state replenishing method 26 is illustrated in FIG. 3. The method begins at 28, where the lithium-deficient electrode material is intimately mixed with lithium carbonate (Li2CO3). The compounds may be mixed together in any suitable mill-e.g., a ball mill.
  • Method 26 then advances to 30, where the intimate mixture of the lithium-deficient electrode material and lithium carbonate is heated. The mixture may be heated in a convection furnace or tube furnace, for example. The mixture may be heated under a reduced dioxygen-content atmosphere or other controlled atmosphere. The intimate mixture may be heated to a sintering temperature of one or more components of the intimate mixture, for example, and held there for a predetermined period of time. Such sintering temperature may be in a range of 500 - 700 °C, for example. A temperature ramp or other program may be used to access sintering temperatures. Heating the intimate mixture to a sintering temperature under appropriate conditions may allow lithium from the lithium carbonate to diffuse into the lattice or lattices of the lithium-deficient electrode material. This action may result in the formation of a substantially fully lithiated and substantially crystalline material for renewed use in energy-storage devices.
  • In other examples, different lithium compounds may be used in place of or in addition to lithium carbonate-Li2SO4, LiHCO3, LiOH, LiI, LiF, LiCl, LiCH3COO, and/or Li2O, for example. In still other examples, the intimate mixture of the lithium-deficient electrode material and the lithium compound may be heated to a temperature greater than or less than the sintering temperature of any of the components of the intimate mixture. For example, the mixture may be heated to the range of 700 - 2500 °C for 1 to 10 days, for example. It will be understood that the temperature and reaction-time ranges given here are exemplary and will depend on the compound or compounds present in the lithium-deficient electrode material and on the lithium compounds selected.
  • A replenishing embodiment comprises promoting a hydrothermal reaction of the lithium-deficient electrode material with a lithium-ion containing solution. An example embodiment of a hydrothermal replenishing method 32 is illustrated in FIG. 4. The method begins at 34, where the lithium-deficient electrode material is suspended in an aqueous lithium hydroxide solution. The method advances to 36, where the resulting suspension is sealed in a pressure vessel, and to 38, where the suspension sealed in the pressure vessel is heated under pressure to an appropriate target temperature and maintained at that temperature for a predetermined period of time. Optimal target temperatures and reaction times may vary from batch to batch of the lithium-deficient electrode material, and may be determined empirically by subjecting the processed material to appropriate analysis. For example, conventional elemental analysis may be used to assay the lithium content, and x-ray powder diffraction may be used to evaluate the crystalline structure of the processed material. Based partly on these data, reaction temperatures and reaction times may be chosen to provide a suitable product at a reasonable processing cost. Thus, hydrothermal processing may provide an attractive, lower-temperature route to promoting lithium diffusion into the lattice or lattices of the lithium-deficient electrode material. This action may result in the formation of a substantially fully lithiated and substantially crystalline material for renewed use in energy-storage devices.
  • As noted above, hydrothermal replenishing method 32 may be performed under various suitable conditions depending on the initial state of the lithium-deficient electrode material-its composition, degree of lithium deficiency, etc. In one example, however, a suspension of LiCoO2-based electrode material may be heated to 100 - 300 °C in approximately 4 molar lithium hydroxide for a period of 12 - 48 hours. Some experiments have suggested that concentrations of lithium hydroxide less than 2 molar may be less effective for hydrothermally replenishing the lithium in some lithium-deficient electrode materials. A typical batch size may be approximately 50 kilograms, which at a tap density of 2.5 grams per cubic centimeter, may be accomplished in a volume of approximately 20 liters. Accordingly, the reaction may be conducted a suitably designed stainless steel pressure vessel of larger capacity. In some embodiments, other solvents besides water may be used in the suspension-tetrahydrofuran, acetonitrile, and hexane, as examples. When these solvents are present in the suspension, lower reaction temperatures may be used.
  • Another replenishing embodiment comprises reducing the lithium-deficient electrode material in an environment comprising lithium ions. As used herein, the terms 'reducing,' 'reduction,' etc., will be understood to include any meanings ascribed to them in the field of redox chemistry. As such, they embrace such variants as chemical reduction, electrochemical reduction, and photoelectrochemical reduction. Further, 'reducing ... in an environment comprising lithium ions' will be understood to include all formal equivalents of the same, such as reacting with a lithium atom donor, i.e., 'lithiating.'
  • Accordingly, some examples comprise allowing the lithium-deficient electrode material to react with one or more organolithium compounds, which may include alkyllithium and/or aryllithium compounds. Representative, non-limiting examples include n-butyllithium, sec-butyllithium, methyllithium, lithium naphthalide, etc. To facilitate reaction with the lithium-deficient electrode material in the suspended state, the organolithium compound may be dissolved in any suitable solvent system-ethers, hydrocarbons, and mixtures thereof-to which the lithium-deficient electrode material is introduced, for example, as a slurry. An example of a reductive replenishing method 40 is illustrated in FIG. 5. The method begins at 42, where the lithium-deficient electrode material is suspended in an ether solvent such as tetrahydrofuran. Vigorous stirring may be used to keep the lithium-deficient electrode material in suspension. The method then advances to 44, where the suspension is sparged with a stream of dinitrogen to remove dissolved dioxygen and/or carbon dioxide. In another example, the suspension may be stirred vigorously under an atmosphere of dinitrogen. The method then advances to 46, where a solution of 0.25 molar methyllithium dissolved in tetrahydrofuran is added to the suspension at controlled rate while vigorous stirring is maintained. In one example, the methyllithium solution may be added portionwise. The rate of addition of the methyllithium solution may be responsive to such factors as the initial amount of lithium-deficient electrode material to be reacted, the degree of lithium deficiency of the material, and the temperature of the suspension. For example, a predetermined temperature range for the suspension may be 0 - 35 °C, and the rate of addition of the methyllithium solution may be controlled so that the temperature does not exceed the upper limit of the temperature range. It will be understood that the temperature range given here is exemplary, and that other suitable temperature ranges and reaction conditions may be used instead. Further, the methyllithium solution may be added until a predetermined degree of re-lithiation of the lithium-deficient electrode material is achieved-e.g., 90% of stoichiometric, 95% of stoichiometric, etc. In one example, the degree of re-lithiation may be determined by withdrawing an aliquot of the suspension from the reaction vessel and assaying the lithium content of the solid in the aliquot. In another embodiment, the degree of re-lithiation may be estimated or inferred based on the concentration of unreacted methyllithium remaining in the suspension some time after a portion of methyllithium solution is added to the suspension. The concentration of unreacted methyllithium remaining in the suspension may be determined or estimated via any suitable analytical procedure.
  • The method then advances to 48, where excess methyllithium in the suspension is quenched. The excess methyllithium may be quenched by addition of a suitable Lewis acid -e.g., carbon dioxide or an alcohol-to the suspension while vigorous stirring is maintained.
  • Other reducing agents besides organolithium compounds may also be used. These include lithium iodide, lithium dithionite, lithium thiosulfate, and lithium sulfide, as examples.
  • In one example, a lithium-deficient LiFePO4-based electrode material may be suspended in a solvent system comprising ethylene carbonate and diethyl carbonate, and lithium iodide added to the suspension. The mixture is stirred vigorously for a period of 8-24 hours at ambient temperatures, or heated at reflux, after which treatment the processed electrode material is collected by filtration.
  • In still other examples, non-lithium based reducing agents such as iron filings, hydrazine or hydrazine-based compounds may be used in conjunction with a non-reducing source of lithium ions: lithium hydroxide or lithium acetate, as examples. Such combinations of reagents may be used to effectively replenish at least some lithium in the lithium deficient electrode material.
  • Reducing agents such as these may be dissolved and/or suspended in various solvent systems, and the lithium-deficient electrode material suspended in the resulting mixtures to effect reduction. Thus, to replenish at least some of the lithium in a lithium-deficient electrode material, the material may be suspended in a solution comprising one or more of a lithiating agent, a reducing agent, and lithium ions. Further, suspending the lithium-deficient electrode material in the solution may comprise suspending it in a solution comprising one or more of liquid and supercritical carbon dioxide.
  • Methods as illustrated' above may even be applied to lithium-deficient electrode material still present within a lithium or lithium ion cell. Thus, the approach set forth herein may be applied to various battery-refurbishing, as well as battery-recycling, strategies. One example is illustrated in FIG. 6.
  • FIG. 6 illustrates an example lithium or lithium-ion cell refurbishment method 52. The method may be enacted in a reduced-dioxygen content atmosphere, as noted above. The method begins at 54, where an enclosure of the cell is non-destructively breached. The enclosure may be non-destructively breached by making a small hole in the enclosure, or, for cells particularly designed for refurbishing, by opening one or more valves disposed between the ambient and the electrolyte of the cell. The method then advances to 56, where a lithium-ion containing, reducing solution is admitted through the breach in the cell. In one example, a solution of lithium iodide in ethylene carbonate and/or diethyl carbonate may be admitted through the breach in the cell. In another example, a solvent system for the lithium-ion containing, reducing solution may include liquid or supercritical carbon dioxide. Accordingly, the method may be part of a more extensive battery refurbishment process that includes extraction of the electrolyte using supercritical carbon dioxide.
  • Continuing in FIG. 6, method 52 then advances to 58, where the cell is allowed time for the lithium-ion containing, reducing solution to react with the lithium-deficient electrode material within the cell. In some examples, the cell may shaken or rocked to increase the rate of the lithium-replenishing reaction. The cell may be incubated at greater-than-ambient temperatures to increase the rate of reaction. The method then advances to 60, where fresh electrolyte solution is admitted to the cell through the breach. In some examples, this step of the process may further comprise forcing out some or all of the lithium-ion containing, reducing solution which was admitted to the cell at 56, by utilization of supercritical carbon dioxide, or centrifugation, for example. The method then advances to 62, where the breach in the cell is sealed. Sealing the breach in the cell may comprise closing one or more of the valves referred to above, or, in cells not particularly designed for refurbishing, by applying a sealant or adhesive to the breach.
  • The lithium-deficient electrode material may be reduced electrochemically in a solution comprising lithium ions. This approach may be most easily accomplished using a positive electrode of a spent battery which is separated intact from a breached cell of the battery. The lithium-deficient electrode material may be deposited on a tray or grid electrode, in pieces or in a finely divided state, and the tray or grid electrode biased at a reducing potential within an electrochemical cell. Example electrolytes for the electrochemical reduction include aqueous, one-molar lithium hydroxide, but other lithium-ion containing electrolytes may be used instead.
  • In other examples, the lithium-deficient electrode material may be photolyzed in an environment comprising lithium ions. In one example, the lithium-deficient electrode material may be intimately mixed with lithium iodide and subject to ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. The mixture may be irradiated in the solid state or in a slurry. In one example, the slurry may be flowed through an intense UV irradiance for efficient and consistent irradiation. An auger may be used to conduct the mixture in solid form through the UV irradiance.
  • Continuing in FIG. 1, method 10 advances to 64, where the formerly lithium-deficient electrode material (now referred to as a recycled electrode material) is collected in a filter, and to 66, where it is rinsed with a solvent to remove one or more excess reagents which may have adhered to the material in the course of one or more replenishing procedures. Method 10 then advances to 68, where the recycled electrode material is isolated by filtration. In other embodiments, centrifugation may be used to isolate the recycled material, instead of or in addition to filtration. In these and other embodiments, the isolation step may further comprise drying the recycled electrode material is dried in air-by drawing air through the filter, for example. Following isolation of the recycled electrode material, method 10 advances to 70, where the isolated recycled electrode material is heated to a sintering temperature. Sintering may be done to increase the crystallinity of the recycled electrode material, as noted above. It is further noted that, sintering at 70 constitutes a first sintering process in method 10. Moreover, additional embodiments contemplated and fully embraced by this disclosure may comprise a sintering process prior to replenishing at 24. Naturally, it will be understood that one or more process steps within method 10 may be wholly or partly automated, and that the method may be repeated for any desired number of spent batteries in the waste or recycling stream.
  • It will be further understood that some of the process steps described and/or illustrated herein may in some embodiments be omitted without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Likewise, the indicated sequence of the process steps may not always be required to achieve the intended results, but is provided for ease of illustration and description. One or more of the illustrated actions, functions, or operations may be performed repeatedly, depending on the particular strategy being used.
  • Finally, it will be understood that the articles and methods described herein are exemplary in nature, and that these specific embodiments or examples are not to be considered in a limiting sense, because numerous variations are contemplated. Accordingly, the present disclosure includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and sub-combinations of the various systems and methods disclosed herein, as well as any and all equivalents thereof.

Claims (9)

  1. A method for making a recycled electrode material for an energy-storage device, the method comprising:
    harvesting a lithium-deficient electrode material from a recycling or waste stream; and
    replenishing at least some lithium in the lithium-deficient electrode material to obtain a recycled electrode material,
    characterised in that
    replenishing the at least some lithium comprises promoting a hydrothermal reaction of the lithium-deficient electrode material with a lithium-ion-containing solution, and
    the recycled electrode material is heated to a sintering temperature.
  2. The method of claim 1, wherein the lithium-ion-containing solution is an aqueous lithium hydroxide solution.
  3. The method of claim 1, wherein harvesting the lithium-deficient electrode material comprises separating an intact electrode from a spent battery.
  4. The method of claim 1, wherein harvesting the lithium-deficient electrode material comprises separating the lithium-deficient electrode material from a spent battery in pieces or in a finely divided state.
  5. The method of claim 1, wherein harvesting the lithium-deficient electrode material comprises selecting the lithium-deficient electrode material based on a grain size, a particle size, or a structure size of the lithium-deficient electrode material.
  6. The method of claim 1, wherein harvesting the lithium-deficient electrode material comprises harvesting one or more lithium-deficient forms of LiCoO2, LiTiO2, LiFePO4, LiMnO2, and/or LiNi0.80 Co0.05 Al0.15O2.
  7. The method of claim 1, wherein replenishing at least some lithium comprises photolyzing the lithium-deficient electrode material in an environment comprising lithium ions.
  8. The method of claim 1, wherein replenishing at least some lithium comprises suspending the lithium-deficient electrode material in the lithium-ion-containing solution further comprising one or more of a lithiating agent, and a reducing agent.
  9. The method of claim 8, wherein the lithium-ion-containing solution further comprises one or more of liquid and supercritical carbon dioxide.
EP09713108.0A 2008-02-22 2009-02-20 Reintroduction of lithium into recycled electrode materials for battery Active EP2248220B1 (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US3091608P true 2008-02-22 2008-02-22
PCT/US2009/034779 WO2009105713A1 (en) 2008-02-22 2009-02-20 Reintroduction of lithium into recycled battery materials

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2248220A1 EP2248220A1 (en) 2010-11-10
EP2248220A4 EP2248220A4 (en) 2013-04-03
EP2248220B1 true EP2248220B1 (en) 2015-11-04

Family

ID=40985947

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP09713108.0A Active EP2248220B1 (en) 2008-02-22 2009-02-20 Reintroduction of lithium into recycled electrode materials for battery

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (2) US8846225B2 (en)
EP (1) EP2248220B1 (en)
CN (2) CN102017277A (en)
HK (1) HK1243827A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2009105713A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (21)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
TW201044672A (en) * 2009-06-03 2010-12-16 Open Minder Group Ltd Battery device and method of packaging, disassembling and recycling thereof
WO2011079409A1 (en) * 2009-12-28 2011-07-07 深圳市雄韬电源科技股份有限公司 Method of recycling and reusing spent lithium iron phosphate power battery
CN102170036B (en) * 2010-02-26 2014-09-17 比亚迪股份有限公司 Recycling method of lithium iron phosphate cathode materials
CN101916889B (en) * 2010-08-16 2012-05-30 长春劲能锂电池科技有限公司 Method for preparing iron lithium phosphate by recovering water-system waste lithium-ion power battery
CN102064366B (en) * 2010-11-08 2014-04-02 杭州东建能源科技有限公司 Regeneration method for lithium iron phosphate
CN102403554B (en) * 2011-11-10 2013-12-04 大连交通大学 Method for recycling waste lithium iron phosphate ion battery anode material
US9484606B1 (en) * 2013-03-15 2016-11-01 Hulico LLC Recycling and reconditioning of battery electrode materials
FR3011975B1 (en) * 2013-10-14 2018-01-26 Commissariat A L'energie Atomique Et Aux Energies Alternatives METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING AN ALKALINE-BASED HYBRID SUPERCONDENSOR BATTERY, BATTERY OBTAINED THEREBY, AND METHOD FOR RECYCLING ANODE MATERIAL FROM AN ALKALIN-ION BATTERY
US9825341B2 (en) * 2014-08-06 2017-11-21 Steven E. Sloop Recycling positive-electrode material of a lithium-ion battery
CN105895904B (en) * 2014-08-13 2019-02-22 孚能科技（赣州）有限公司 The method of the positive electrode active materials of preparation and recycling lithium ion battery
JP6312576B2 (en) * 2014-10-29 2018-04-18 信越化学工業株式会社 Method for regenerating lithium composite oxide, method for producing electrochemical device, and method for producing lithium ion secondary battery
CN108140851A (en) * 2015-06-19 2018-06-08 24M技术公司 Electrochemical cell restorative procedure
DE102015115691B4 (en) 2015-09-17 2020-10-01 Zentrum für Sonnenenergie- und Wasserstoff-Forschung Baden-Württemberg Gemeinnützige Stiftung Lithium-nickel-manganese-based transition metal oxide particles, their production and their use as electrode material
WO2017095728A1 (en) * 2015-12-01 2017-06-08 Brookhaven Science Associates, Llc Regenerable battery electrode
CN105406146B (en) * 2015-12-31 2018-10-30 哈尔滨工业大学 The carbon dioxide sub critical extraction and recovery reuse method of waste and old lithium ionic cell electrolyte
WO2017142644A2 (en) * 2016-01-07 2017-08-24 Hulico LLC Relithiation in oxidizing conditions
CN108172922B (en) * 2016-12-07 2019-12-17 北京好风光储能技术有限公司 method for recycling semi-solid lithium battery anode slurry
US10388997B2 (en) * 2016-12-09 2019-08-20 Cn Innovations Limited Method and apparatus for disassembling and separating components of batteries
CN107819113A (en) * 2017-09-22 2018-03-20 深圳市比克动力电池有限公司 One kind mends lithium additive and its preparation method and application
WO2019136397A1 (en) * 2018-01-05 2019-07-11 The Regents Of The University Of California Systems and methods for regeneration of lithium cathode materials
CN110400983A (en) * 2019-04-29 2019-11-01 合肥工业大学 A kind of regeneration method of retired lithium secondary battery

Family Cites Families (34)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5352270A (en) * 1992-09-11 1994-10-04 Valence Technology, Inc. Method for recycling metal containing electrical components
DE4491020T1 (en) * 1993-02-18 1995-12-21 Fmc Corp Alkali metal dispersions
US5776369A (en) * 1993-02-18 1998-07-07 Fmc Corporation Alkali metal dispersions
JP3079849B2 (en) 1993-04-01 2000-08-21 株式会社日立製作所 Lithium battery processing method and processing apparatus
US5612150A (en) 1994-03-16 1997-03-18 Hitachi, Ltd. Method and apparatus for treatment of a battery containing alkali metal
WO1997018596A1 (en) * 1995-11-15 1997-05-22 Asahi Kasei Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Composite polymer solid electrolyte and nonaqueous electrochemical device
CA2199096C (en) * 1996-03-05 2001-01-23 Soichiro Kawakami Process and apparatus for recovering components of sealed type battery
JP2001508391A (en) * 1996-12-30 2001-06-26 リーデル−デ ハーエン アクチェンゲゼルシャフト Preparation method of lithium manganese oxide
JP3676926B2 (en) * 1997-06-04 2005-07-27 株式会社日鉱マテリアルズ Method for recovering and regenerating cobalt, nickel, manganese and lithium from battery cathode waste material and battery cathode material
US6150050A (en) 1998-03-09 2000-11-21 Valence Technology, Inc Method for recovering particulate material from electrical components
US6306542B1 (en) * 1998-05-22 2001-10-23 Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Chuo Kenkyusho Lithium manganese composite oxide for lithium secondary battery cathode active material, manufacturing method thereof, and lithium secondary battery using the composite oxide as cathode active material
JP4144820B2 (en) * 1998-06-30 2008-09-03 株式会社東芝 Method for regenerating positive electrode active material from lithium ion secondary battery
CA2311792A1 (en) 1998-09-28 2000-04-06 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. Method for crushing cell
FR2786927B1 (en) 1998-12-07 2001-01-12 Commissariat Energie Atomique PROCESS FOR TREATING A LITHIUM ACCUMULATOR FOR RECYCLING ITS CONSTITUENT MATERIALS
US6273921B1 (en) * 1999-03-22 2001-08-14 The Boeing Company Battery fabrication method using supercritical carbon dioxide
DE19924707A1 (en) 1999-05-28 2000-11-30 Merck Patent Gmbh Process for recycling cathode masses of used lithium batteries
EP1243556B1 (en) * 1999-12-24 2007-02-14 Ishihara Sangyo Kaisha, Ltd. Method for producing lithium manganate
CA2319285A1 (en) * 2000-09-13 2002-03-13 Hydro-Quebec A method for neutralizing and recycling spent lithium metal polymer rechargeable batteries
US20050003276A1 (en) 2001-12-27 2005-01-06 Tetsuo Sakai Lithium polymer cell and manufacturing method thereof
DE60336381D1 (en) * 2002-01-09 2011-04-28 Eco Bat Indiana Llc METHOD FOR REMOVING AN ELECTROLYTE FROM AN ENERGY STORAGE AND / OR AN IMPLEMENTATION DEVICE WITH A SUPERCRITICAL FLUID
US8067107B2 (en) * 2002-01-09 2011-11-29 Eco-Bat Indiana, Llc System and method for processing an end-of-life or reduced performance energy storage and/or conversion device using a supercritical fluid
EP1333522A1 (en) * 2002-02-01 2003-08-06 Batrec Industrie AG Method of and apparatus for storage and handling of objects comprising alkali metals, such as alkali metal containing batteries
US6652644B1 (en) * 2002-03-29 2003-11-25 Silicon Light Machines, Inc. Adjusting lithium oxide concentration in wafers using a two-phase lithium-rich source
KR100473641B1 (en) 2002-06-03 2005-03-10 한국지질자원연구원 Recovery Device and Method of Lithium Cobalt Oxide from Spent Lithium Battery
JP2004265806A (en) 2003-03-04 2004-09-24 Canon Inc Lithium metal composite oxide particle, manufacturing method thereof, electrode structure containing the composite oxide, manufacturing method of the electrode structure and lithium secondary battery having the electrode structure
JP4202198B2 (en) 2003-06-19 2008-12-24 カワサキプラントシステムズ株式会社 Method and apparatus for recycling lithium secondary battery electrode material
US20050130043A1 (en) * 2003-07-29 2005-06-16 Yuan Gao Lithium metal dispersion in electrodes
DE10353266B4 (en) * 2003-11-14 2013-02-21 Süd-Chemie Ip Gmbh & Co. Kg Lithium iron phosphate, process for its preparation and its use as electrode material
US7482081B2 (en) * 2004-02-11 2009-01-27 Zongxuan Hong Battery system with in-situ and on-time continuous regeneration of the electrodes
FR2868603B1 (en) * 2004-04-06 2006-07-14 Recupyl Sa Sa Method for recycling battery mixtures and batteries based on lithium anode
CN1262042C (en) 2004-06-09 2006-06-28 南开大学 Method for regenerating anode materials of waste lithium ion secondary battery
US7964299B2 (en) 2005-10-18 2011-06-21 Enerdel, Inc. Method of recycling a battery
US7776473B2 (en) 2006-03-27 2010-08-17 Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd. Silicon-silicon oxide-lithium composite, making method, and non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cell negative electrode material
WO2008074352A1 (en) 2006-12-21 2008-06-26 Max-Planck-Gesellschaft Zur Förderung Der Wissenschaften A method of filling a component with an anhydrous material and a component made by the method

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN107093778A (en) 2017-08-25
US20090214933A1 (en) 2009-08-27
HK1243827A1 (en) 2018-07-20
CN102017277A (en) 2011-04-13
US9287552B2 (en) 2016-03-15
EP2248220A1 (en) 2010-11-10
US8846225B2 (en) 2014-09-30
WO2009105713A1 (en) 2009-08-27
EP2248220A4 (en) 2013-04-03
US20140377597A1 (en) 2014-12-25

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
Manthiram et al. Nickel‐rich and lithium‐rich layered oxide cathodes: progress and perspectives
Yang et al. Lithium recycling and cathode material regeneration from acid leach liquor of spent lithium-ion battery via facile co-extraction and co-precipitation processes
Lv et al. A critical review and analysis on the recycling of spent lithium-ion batteries
Zeng et al. Recycling of spent lithium-ion battery: a critical review
Pinna et al. Cathodes of spent Li-ion batteries: Dissolution with phosphoric acid and recovery of lithium and cobalt from leach liquors
Yu et al. NaCrO 2 cathode for high-rate sodium-ion batteries
Xiao et al. Recycling metals from lithium ion battery by mechanical separation and vacuum metallurgy
Song et al. Is Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 a solid-electrolyte-interphase-free electrode material in Li-ion batteries? Reactivity between the Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 electrode and electrolyte
EP2786441B1 (en) Method for lithiating anodes
US10892487B2 (en) Rechargeable electrochemical cell
Li et al. Sustainable recovery of cathode materials from spent lithium-ion batteries using lactic acid leaching system
Andersson et al. Thermal Stability of LiFePO4‐Based Cathodes
Sonoc et al. Opportunities to improve recycling of automotive lithium ion batteries
Li et al. Recovery of lithium, iron, and phosphorus from spent LiFePO4 batteries using stoichiometric sulfuric acid leaching system
Gao et al. High capacity Li [Li0. 2Mn0. 54Ni0. 13Co0. 13] O2–V2O5 composite cathodes with low irreversible capacity loss for lithium ion batteries
Kepler et al. Li x Cu6Sn5 (0< x< 13): an intermetallic insertion electrode for rechargeable lithium batteries
Belliard et al. Novel tin oxide-based anodes for Li-ion batteries
JP5128272B2 (en) Method for mixed recycling of lithium-based anode batteries and cells
US7713396B2 (en) Method and apparatus for recycling electrode material of lithium secondary battery
Zhang et al. Hydrometallurgical process for recovery of metal values from spent lithium-ion secondary batteries
CN101855755B (en) Li-Ni-based composite oxide particle powder for rechargeable battery with nonaqueous elctrolyte, process for producing the powder, and rechargeable battery with nonaqueous electrolyte
Zheng et al. The effects of AlF3 coating on the performance of Li [Li0. 2Mn0. 54Ni0. 13Co0. 13] O2 positive electrode material for lithium-ion battery
EP1716609B1 (en) Electrode active material powder with size dependent composition and method to prepare the same
US20140154575A1 (en) Cyanometallate cathode battery and method for fabrication
JP4892925B2 (en) Method for recovering valuable metals from lithium-ion batteries

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Extension state: AL BA RS

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20100820

DAX Request for extension of the european patent (deleted)
RIC1 Information provided on ipc code assigned before grant

Ipc: H01M 10/42 20060101ALI20130226BHEP

Ipc: H01M 10/052 20100101ALI20130226BHEP

Ipc: H01M 4/485 20100101ALN20130226BHEP

Ipc: H01M 10/54 20060101AFI20130226BHEP

Ipc: H01M 4/525 20100101ALN20130226BHEP

Ipc: H01M 4/58 20100101ALN20130226BHEP

Ipc: H01M 4/505 20100101ALN20130226BHEP

A4 Supplementary search report drawn up and despatched

Effective date: 20130304

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 20131009

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R079

Ref document number: 602009034607

Country of ref document: DE

Free format text: PREVIOUS MAIN CLASS: H01M0010540000

Ipc: H01M0010052000

RIC1 Information provided on ipc code assigned before grant

Ipc: H01M 4/58 20100101ALN20150508BHEP

Ipc: H01M 10/052 20100101AFI20150508BHEP

Ipc: H01M 10/54 20060101ALI20150508BHEP

Ipc: H01M 4/485 20100101ALN20150508BHEP

Ipc: H01M 4/525 20100101ALN20150508BHEP

Ipc: H01M 10/42 20060101ALI20150508BHEP

Ipc: H01M 4/505 20100101ALN20150508BHEP

INTG Intention to grant announced

Effective date: 20150608

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: FG4D

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: EP

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: AT

Ref legal event code: REF

Ref document number: 759754

Country of ref document: AT

Kind code of ref document: T

Effective date: 20151115

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R096

Ref document number: 602009034607

Country of ref document: DE

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: PLFP

Year of fee payment: 8

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: NL

Ref legal event code: MP

Effective date: 20151104

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: LT

Ref legal event code: MG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: AT

Ref legal event code: MK05

Ref document number: 759754

Country of ref document: AT

Kind code of ref document: T

Effective date: 20151104

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151104

Ref country code: LT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151104

Ref country code: HR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151104

Ref country code: ES

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151104

Ref country code: NO

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20160204

Ref country code: IS

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20160304

Ref country code: NL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151104

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20160205

Ref country code: BE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20160229

Ref country code: PT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20160304

Ref country code: LV

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151104

Ref country code: SE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151104

Ref country code: AT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151104

Ref country code: PL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151104

Ref country code: FI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151104

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: CZ

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151104

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R097

Ref document number: 602009034607

Country of ref document: DE

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: EE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151104

Ref country code: DK

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151104

Ref country code: SK

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151104

Ref country code: RO

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151104

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PL

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: MC

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151104

Ref country code: LU

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20160220

26N No opposition filed

Effective date: 20160805

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20160229

Ref country code: CH

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20160229

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: MM4A

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151104

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: BE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151104

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20160220

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: PLFP

Year of fee payment: 9

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: MT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151104

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: PLFP

Year of fee payment: 10

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: CY

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151104

Ref country code: HU

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT; INVALID AB INITIO

Effective date: 20090220

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: MK

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151104

Ref country code: TR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151104

Ref country code: MT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20160229

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: BG

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20151104

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20200227

Year of fee payment: 12

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20200219

Year of fee payment: 12

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20200219

Year of fee payment: 12